TESTING THE FAITH

Catholic schools agree to provide Islamic lessons

Opponents blast regulation as silly

(THE JAKARTA POST) — Six Catholic schools in Blitar municipality, East Java, have finally given in to a local ordinance and will provide Islamic lessons for their Muslim students.

The city ordinance requires all Muslim students to be able to read and write Koranic verses.

The head of the Religious Affairs Ministry’s office in Blitar, Imam Mukhlis, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that the six schools had finally agreed to provide Islamic teachers for their Muslim students.

“We met today [Tuesday] and everything is just fine and there is no problem. They are willing to carry out the city ordinance,” he said.